Fabric frame and fabric-mounting apparatus for embroidery machines



Ndv. 27, 1928.- 1,693,562

r P. O. MOTH ES FABRIC FRAME AND FABRIC MOUNTING APPARATUS FOR EMBROIDERY MACHINES Filed Nov. is, 1926 2 Sheets-Shae 1 Nov.

4 I III" In? I I l P. o. MOTHES FABRIC FRAME AND FABRIC MOUNTING APPARATUS FOR EMBROIDERY MACHINES Filed Nov. 15, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 C (7A; ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 27, 1928.

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PAUL OTTO L VIOTI-IES, OF NORTH BERGEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF TO STEIN-TOBLER COMPANY, INC., A CGRPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FABRIC FRAME FABRIC-MOUNTING APPARATUS FOR EMBROIDERY MACHINES.

Application filed November 13, 1926 Serial No. 148,187.

This invention relates to improv-em'ents in fabric frames and fabric-mounting apparatus for embroidery machines. 1

One of the objects of this invention is to 5 producea fabric-frame, preferably adapted for embroidery machines of the Schifiii type, and having a series of adjacent tambourframes for mounting individual pieces to be embroidered, in which a stationary frame member is formed of a plurality of permanently interconnected hooprlilre tambourframe elements, and the other hoop-like element ismovable and is insertable Within the stationary element.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fabric-frame having a seriesof tamhour-frames composed of stationary and mov able frame elements, in which a single bar will serve as the common side of two adjacent stationary tambour-frame elements.

Still another object of the invention is to provide, in combination with suitable supporting members, a series of vertical and horizontal bars permanently connected to form 2 a stationary framehaving rectangular tambour-frame openings or compartments arranged adjacent to each other, one of such bars providing a common outer stationary frame-member for adjacent tambour-compartments and an inner hoop-like tambourframe element removably mounted in said stationary frame. 7 I Another object of this invention is to provide means for inserting an individualfabric to be embroidered and a removable tambour-frame element in each of said stationary tambour-frame compartments bounded, as aforesaid, by the stationary frame element, c Another object of my inventionis to provide novel method and means for initially mounting fabric over a stationary frame-element and then tightening the said-fabric in place between the sides and ends thereof by the insertion of a movable inner fra1ne-element. v V y Another object of the invention is to produce an inserting device in which removable means are employed for initially stretching and positioning in registration with the open- Ming inan outer stationary frame -element, the fabric to be embroidered, and then guiding and inserting an inner frame-element to hold the fabric in tightened condition within said frame opening. 7

With these and other objects in view, the

invention comprises the combination of members and arrangement of parts so combined as to coact and cooperate with each other in the performance of the functions and the accomplishment of the results herein contemplated, and comprises in one of its adaptations the species or preferred form illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a fabric-frame embodying my invention, showing a series of fabric pieces mounted in position to be embroidered at one end and another piece in the process of being inserted within a frame-compartment;

Fig.2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the insertion element mounted on the fabric-frame and a piece of fabric mounted on said insertion element prior to initial stretching by the insertion element;

Fi 3 is a similar section showing the insertion member closed to initially span the material and retain it in tightened relationship above the frame-compartment into which it is to be inserted and also showing the inner framemember arranged above the fabric in said insertion element before being depressed through said insertion element and into contact with the stationary frame-member;

Fig. 4 is a similar section showing the inner ring or removable frame-member partially inserted Within the outer stationary framemember with the inserting device still in place; i

Fig. 5 shows a similar View illustrating the position of'the fabric when the ring or inner hoop-like frame-member has been partially inserted into the stationary frame and the insertion element has been moved over With its insertion aperture registering with the next frame and with a portion overlying said partially inserted hoop-like inner framemember so as to permit further depression of the same within the frame;

Fig. 6 illustrates the insertion device and the movable fabric ring depressed into final position with the insertion device also in proper position over the next adjacent frame opening to permit insertion of another piece of fabric; r 4

Fig. 7 is a vertical section on the line 77 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrow, showing the insertion device applied with a ring inserted therethrough and partially inserted into cooperative relationship with the stationary frame-memberg Fig. 8 is an enlarged :fiwiginentary section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 9 is aview, in perspective, of the inserting device employed by'me;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view in front elevation of a tan hour frame composed of the integral outer members and movable inner members;

Fig. 11 is a retaining clip employed by me for retaining the gathered edges of the embroidered pieces; and

Fig. 12 is a section on the line 12-12 of Fig. 1, showin one of the clips in holding position.

-Referring now to these drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, 1 indicates a fabric frame which adapted to be supported in vertical position in an embroidery machine of the Schiilli or similartype and which when it is desired to embroider individual pieces, such as gloves handkerchiefs and the like, is intended to be substituted for the usual Schitlli fabricfra-me. These individual-piece frames require a series of individual fabric-stretching means, such as tambour-frames, for the purpose of spanning, stretching and holding the 7 individual pieces in position to be embroidered by the needles, it being understood that when the embroidery machine is provided with duplicate or top and bottom rows of needles, my fabric-frame may be liliewise duplicated, in which case, the duplicate top and bottom f'ames would be suitably connected together and supported by the mechanism of the machine. Such du 'olicate frames, however, being identical, it will only be necessary to describe one of the same adapted for cooperation with a single row or series of needles.

' It will be understood that these frames are usually disposed vertically to cooperate w th horizontal reciprocating needles and extend the entire length of the Schitlli mael inie. They are, therefore, very long andheavy and preferably include therein an individual tambour-fra-me to cooperate with each needle so as to avoid the removal of needles in l to permit a relatively large number of individual pieces to be embroidered simultaneou'sly.

mounting the fabric it is desirable to have as few loose parts as possible and to make the frame parts as light as possible.

By the use of my invention, l am enabled to produce an embroidery machine frame em bodying a series of cooperating tambour or individual fabric-stretching frames in which the outer elements or members of the tembour-frame are stationary and a plurality or series thereof are formed in, a single piece, and preferably comprise an integral part of the embroidery machine frame. Said series of outer tambour-frame elements are also entire length of the machine and these bars are connected together by series of spaced stationary parallel vertical bars 3. The spaces thus formed are again subdivided by stationary liOliAODt-Ztl bars 4, 4 to provide at the middle of the machineframe a series of tambour-fra-me openings 5 bounded by said stationary vertical and horizontal bars, and to provide atthe upper end of each tambourframe compartment a covered holdercon1- partinent 6 for excess material extending over the top end and a lower hanger compartment 7 for the excess material extendingbeloiv said tambourframes. The upper holder-comport-ment is covered on opposite sides by apiece of tightly fitted flexible fabric extending to a point slightly less llllllllllt width of the holder-compartment so to enable passage of the excess material beneath the cover and the holding thereof within the compartment by said cover. The lower ompartments need not be covered as the excess material will hang down therein by gravity, 7

lheindividual pieces of fabric are inserted within the stationaryframe-elements simultaneously with the insertion therein of the removabl inner frame-element. in order to mount these. individual pieces of fabric in the said frames, an individual piece of fabric 9' is initially stretched over and in proxiinityto a stationary frame-element by what 1 shall term an inserter-8 and then an inner ring 10 guided by said inserter is in serted within the frame opening.

My insertion device or'inserter is preferably composed of a pair of hinged members 11 and 12, comprising a base member 11 pro-- vided with an opening 13 of a size similar to and adapted to register with the opening of the outer f time-element, the said base memupwardly-disposed flanges A, 1t, 14 and 1.4 which when the inserter is properly positioned over frame opening 5 will register with the side and end portions of a frameand said opening 13 and flanges are adapted to permit the inner member to pass there through and therebetween. as hereinafter specified.- The other hinged member 12 comprises an initial stretchingplate also having a registering opening 10, the side and end edges of which are adapted to close over the edges of the said flanges so that when a piece of fabric 9 is mounted over the flanges ll, 14, 14c and 1 9 and opening 13 in the base plate, the closing of the top hinged plate 12 will cause the edges of the opening 15 to engage and initially stretch the fabric 9. The

base plate is preferably guided into and held l 413 ided for that purpose.

\Vhen the fabric is thus initially stretched between the base and stretching members to extend over an integral tambour-frame element,"the inner frame-element 10 is then positioned over the said fabric between the flanges, 14, 14', in and 14 in the base plate and is forced downwardly between the, said guiding flanges and into resilient frictional contact with the integral tambour-frame bars in the said machine frame. This inner framemember lOpreferably has its bottom edge rounded off to facilitateentrance and is also preferably bulged outwardly at its middle portion 10 so as to enable a more thorough frictional and resilient engagement with the integral frame bars and when this inner ring or hook-like frame-element is resiliently engaged by the said integral frame bars or outer frame-element, the insertion device is removed and placed in registry with an adjacent tambour-frame opening,

During the setting (f this insertion device in place for insertion of fabric in the next frame, the under side of the flat portion 11 thereof will engage the ring previously inserted and will form a convenient means for forcing it down between the said integral frame bars until the upper edges thereof are flush with said integral frame element or bars, whereupon the operation hereinabove described will be repeated for the insertion of another individual piece of fabric, and these operations may be continued if desired until all the tambour-frame openings in the entire machine frame are filled with such pieces to be embroidered.

In the preferredembodiment of my invention shown, an aligning pin 11 for the fabric piece is provided on the base plate 11, and a notch 12 is cut out of the stretching top plate 12 to permit closing thereof for the purpose of stretching the fabric, as aforesaid.

I preferably, as aforesaid, provide above the integral frames shown a series of compartments 6 covered tightly by a flexible fabric 6* so as to enable any piece-portions projecting upwardly from the tambour-frames to be engaged, covered and held in place. These portions of the fabric piece projecting downwardly, simply hang, as aforesaid, by gravity. In case, however, the piece to be embroidered extends beyond the edges of the tambour-frame, the overhanging edge portions are preferably gathered or rolled together adjacent to the side of the tambourframe and are secured in place thereon by means of a clip or clamp 17 so as to be snugly held out of the way of the embroidery needles cooperating with the adjacent frame. These clips 17 may, however, be applied after the insertion of the next adjacent piece of fabric and portions of the fabric in adjacent tamhour-frames may be rolled togethe and held by a single clip.

In the pref rred embodiment of my invention, the stretching member 12 is provided with an inwardly-directed marginal flange 12 at the upper edge thereof which, when this member 12 is closed over the member 11, will engage the individual fabric piece and assist in stretching it over the abutting edge of the said member 11.

Having described my invention, I claim l. A fabric-frame for embroidery machines con'iprising supporting members extending longitudinally of the embroidery machine, a series of outer tambour-frame elements irremovably and permanently connected to said supporting members, and movable inner tambour-frame elements adapted to frictionally engage pieces of material between themselves and said outer elements and means for initially stretching individual pieces of fabric over said outer frame elements and guiding the insertion of said inner element within the outer element.

2. A fabric-frame for embroidery machines comprising top and bottom supporting members extending longitudinally of the embroidery machine, a series of outer tambour-frame elements permanently connected between said supporting members, movable inner tambour-frame elements adapted to frictionally engage pieces of material between themselves and said outer tambour-frame elements, and means for initially stretching individual pieces of fabric over said outer tambour-frame elements, and guiding the insertion of said inner elements Within the outer elements, comprising a base-plate having an opening adapted to register with the openings of the outer tambour-frame elements and to seat the inner frame elements, and means for initially stretching said fabric over the said opening in the base plate.

3. A fabric frame for embroidery machines comprising top and bottom supporting members extending longitudinally of the embroidery machine, a series of outer tambourframe elements permanently connected between said supporting members, movable inner tanibour-frame elements adapted to frictionally engage pieces of material between themselves and said outer tambour-frame elements, and means for initially stretching individual pieces of fabric over said outer tambour-frame elements, and guiding the insertion of said inner elements within the outer elements, comprising a base-plate having an opening adapted to register With the openings of the outer tambour-frame elements and to seat the inner frame elements, marginal flanges at the edges of the opening in the base plate, said flanges registering with the Walls of the outer frame-elements and extending outwardly to provide a raised fabic seat and another member having an opening adapted to embrace or hug the edges of said seat to initially stretch and yielding-1y hold the fabric surrounding all parts of said base-plate opening and to permit the insertion of the inner tambour-frame element into frictional engagement with the Walls of the outer member.

4:. A fabric-frame for embroidery machines comprising top and bottom supporting members extending longitudinally of the embroidery machine, a series of outer tambour-frame elements permanently Connected between said supporting members, movable inner tambourframe elements adapted to frietionall y engage pieces of material between themselves and said. enter tambonr-frame elements, and means for initially stretching individual pieces of fabric over said outer tambourframe elements, and guiding the insertion of said inner elements Within the outer elen'ients comprising a base-plate having an opening adapted to register with the openings of the outer tambour-frame elements and toseat the inner frame elements, marginal flanges at the edges of the opening in the base plate, said flanges registering With the walls of the outer frame eiement-s and extending out- Wal'dly to proi'ide a raised fabric seat and another hinged member having an opening anapted to embrace or hug the edges of said seat to initially stretch and yieldingly hold;

the fabric surrounding all parts of said base plate opening and to permit the insertion of the inner tambour-fraine elements into frictional engagement with the Walls of the outer member.

In witness whereof I have signed my name to the foregoing specification.

PAUL OTTO MOTHES. 

